Golf isn’t a game of perfect. There’s always room for improvement. Better performance invariably leads to more play… and, in turn, more spend and a deeper connection. So, how many golfers are taking instruction? And what’s the overall economic impact of the tens of millions of lessons on the industry at large?

Golf course living, in general, is enjoying a rebound like the game itself in the post-pandemic era. And golf-related real estate is a topic we’re asked about frequently and a subject our consulting team addresses regularly with developers and municipal planning boards or other authorities.

More golfers have played more rounds over the past several years and this means U.S. golf courses – broadly speaking — are busier than ever. So what are operators and golfers saying about current capacity, whether it’s being able to run a facility efficiently given the manpower and course conditioning, or getting tee times at crowded public courses on the weekend?

Asking what an “average golfer” typically shoots isn’t as straightforward a question as it might seem. The golfer-reported average — among those who keep score — hasn’t changed very much in years. But if you account for some important caveats, the actual average likely skews upwards.

The U.S. golf industry is now in its 50th month since pandemic-related restrictions on golf were lifted in 2020. And the numbers continue to reinforce that we’re enjoying a “new normal” when it comes to play.

There are hundreds of new golf courses in varying stages of development around the world, with over half of those in the pipeline within the U.S. So, which other countries are especially active in the world of golf course construction?